In the continuation of their visit to Montenegro and the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral of the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Royal Highness Prince Davit Bagration Muhranbatoni, Head of the Royal House of Georgia had the honor of being received in the Parliament of Montenegro, as the highest legislative and constitutional body of this fraternal country.
In Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, in the Montenegrin Parliament His Highness was kindly welcomed by the competent parliamentary staff and received by Mr. Slaven Radunovich, Member of the Parliament of Montenegro, President of the Club of Deputies of the Democratic Front and Vice President of the political party New Serbian Democracy. Mr. Radunovich is the highest parliamentary representative of the largest political force within the ruling coalition in Montenegro, which testifies to the importance attached to His Highness’s visit to Montenegro in such sensitive circumstances and on such an important and historical occasion.
The entourage that accompanied Their Highnesses on this occasion consisted of: Mr. Aleksandar Djurdjev, Vice-Rector of the Order of the Eagle of Georgia and the Seamless Tunic of our Lord Jesus Christ in Serbia and Member of Parliament in the Parliament of the Serbian Autonomous Province of Vojvodina; Reverend Deacon Hadzi Nenad M. Jovanovich, Chaplain of the Georgian Royal Orders in Serbia; Mr. Goran Milenkovich, Assistant Minister for Rural Welfare – Sector for International Cooperation, European Integration and Projects in the Government of Serbia and Mr. Henri Durand de Grossouvre, Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Eagle of Georgia and the Seamless Tunic of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This opportunity was used for closer acquaintance, in order to accelerate activities to bring the two peoples and countries closer, which is regarded as mutually beneficial. Along these lines, Mr. Radunovich acquainted His Highness extensively with the genesis of the problems that lead to divisions in the national corps in Montenegro, as well as with the main currents of the historical development of the Serbian people and their Church in Montenegro.
On the other hand, His Highness acquainted his distinguished interlocutor with the status of His Royal House in Georgia, as well as with its significance in the history of universal Orthodoxy, especially evoking memories of the warm relationship He had the opportunity to develop with the late Serbian Patriarch Irinej.
Both distinguished interlocutors expressed their concern over the announcement of unpleasant events and the heating up of political tensions in connection with the enthronement ceremony of His Eminence k.k. Joanikije II, Metropolitan of Montenegro, Littoral, Zeta, Brda and Skenderija and Exarch of the Holy Throne of Pech. In that sense, His Highness underlined and emphasized his support for the canonical Church in Montenegro, informing his interlocutor with His gracious decision to award Metropolitan Joanikije with the Order of the Eagle of Georgia and the Seamless Tunic of our Lord Jesus Christ on the occasion of his enthronement.
This was met with the benevolent and joyful approval of Mr. Radunovich, both as a chief parliamentary representative of the ruling coalition in the Montenegrin Parliament and as a faithful son of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
